Kitebrook children shone brightly at the Cokethorpe School Cross Country event, running against ten other schools from all over Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

With over 300 children taking part, the enthusiastic athletes took to the track in good running conditions, and gave it their utmost. There were spectacular performances from all of our children, with Max H. (1st boy) and Olivia R. (1st girl) winning their age group races. Kitebrook’s boys team of Max H., Harry D., Arthur C,. and Phillip ZW. came first in the boys’ team event and the girls’ team of Olivia R., Alice F., Hannah R., and Amelia H., finished 2nd overall in the girls standings.

Head of Boys Sport Mr Hughes said: “We are extremely proud of all of the children’s great efforts, pushing themselves to achieve some personal bests.”

"All we have of freedom, all we use or know - / This our fathers bought for us long and long ago."

As services and special events have been taking place across the world to remember those killed or wounded in conflict, marking 100 years since Armistice Day, Kitebrook too have been honouring those who have fought for their country.

Pupils dedicated two days to special assemblies and lessons to mark the historic event. Welcoming a Major from the army into their pupil-led Remembrance Prayers, the whole school recognised the centenary of the end of World War I by listening and reflecting upon moving talks on the history and meaning of remembrance, alongside a beautiful presentation on the role of animals in wars, both past and present. The Upper School pupils also took part in a WWI trench workshop, working brilliantly together filling sandbags in teams. The children learned in a practical way and it served as a reminder about the atrocities their fellow countrymen and beyond endured during the Great War.

On the second day of remembrance, Prayers were more reflective as each year group approached a makeshift trench to lay poppies and a wreath in silence; afterwards a pupil sympathetically recited the famous Wilfred Owen poem Dulce et Decorum Est.

Kitebrook staff and pupils also attended the Remembrance Parade in Moreton-in-Marsh on Sunday 11th; laying a wreath, and their respects, at the War Memorial.

2018 Winter Olympian Toby Olubi took time out of his bobsleigh training to visit Kitebrook pupils. Earlier this year Toby competed in the 23rd Winter Olympic Games held in PyeongChang, South Korea, as Brakeman for the Great British Bobsleigh team.

Spending the morning with the whole school, Toby used Kitebrook’s newly-opened multi-purpose hall to hold an inspirational assembly, sharing his challenges and achievements along with his aims and ambitions for his sporting career.

Arranged through Inspired Through Sport, Olubi’s visit is in association with other British athletes who appear in schools to help fund expensive training, travel and nutrition costs. In conjunction with talking to the pupils, there is an emphasis on fitness, healthy eating and growth mindset - something which is particularly akin to Kitebrook’s ideology.

The children were especially enamoured with all of the special bobsleigh equipment Toby had to showcase and really enjoyed reenacting the skills of collaboration and teamwork that is involved when participating at such a high level of sport.

“We had an amazing day with an inspirational Olympian” said Senior Master Mr Hughes, “he is a fantastic role model for our pupils and related very well to all age groups; his visit was also a great opportunity for each child to set individual activity goals which work in conjunction with our Growth Mindset Skills”.

Kitebrook Preparatory School is celebrating the opening of a new multi-purpose Hall for their pupils this term, welcoming Trustee, Katie Pryce, and new Cothill Trust Chief Executive Tom Beardmore-Gray, to officially open the recently completed building.

The new 345 sq m area is a welcome addition to the school who have already used the facility for a parent morning, group assemblies and musical performances. Proving a popular addition, (with parents describing the new Hall as ‘a tardis’), it will reap many benefits as a sporting, performance, and presentation arena for years to come.

Headmistress Susan McLean said: “We now have a wonderful light and airy space, with beautiful acoustics, that has been sympathetically built to work in harmony with our building heritage. We are very much looking forward all the vibrant activities and events the Hall can now embrace”.

All of the children in Year 8 were in excellent form during our trip to Italy and very good company. There was plenty of laughter, a great deal learnt and some really fantastic memories created.

So: they experienced crowded Neopolitan trains, climbed with verve up Vesuvius - and the view was clear and beautiful; played hide and seek in the tunnels under the Puzzuoli amphitheatre; gawped at the vastness of Pompeii; explored Herculaneum - but failed to discover the skeletons; swam and dived in the pool and made a sterling effort to talk with Italian children; ate pizza, pasta and chips, drank iced tea and lemon soda, and found a wonderful gelataria, anguishing over choices of flavours.

We were sad to leave but I'm sure some of the pupils will return in the future.

A fantastic day was had by all last Sunday morning at the Oxford Town & Gown with some amazing running results from some of the Kitebrook team. Fantastic camaraderie, perfect weather and huge fun had by all. The team has recently reached £5000 of sponsorship for MAP Nemaline from the various fund raising forms. Incredible – but it was really more about the team spirit, the Cothill band of runners were also running for MAP Nemaline – so there was a wonderful atmosphere of general support. Thank you to everyone who came to run and support!

Meriel Park, a Year 4 pupil from Kitebrook Preparatory School has published a book together with her carer, Anna-Marie, to raise awareness of her condition, Nemaline Myopathy. ‘The Dream Stone’ is a fictional tale about Sam, the Dream Stone and his best friend, Meriel. Inspired by real events during Meriel’s Dream Stone Triathlon (Which was supported by Mr Kruze, a Teacher who cycled 170 miles from Kitebrook to Mount Snowdon) and her other valued personal experiences while living with the condition, the book is written in a fun and imaginative manner. Illustrations are by Meriel and her elder brother, Miles and include photographs taken by Team Map Nemaline. All royalties from the book go to MAP Nemaline Fund, a ring-fenced fund for research into Nemaline Myopathy within Muscular Dystrophy UK Charity. Please visit their websitewww.thedreamstonespirit.orgfor further information about Meriel’s Dream Stone Triathlon, MAP Nemaline, Meriel’s other fundraising efforts and to purchase copies of the book.

On Thursday 15 March nearly 800 schools, around 25,000 students and over 2,500 teachers were involved in BBC School Report’s 12 News Day.

What an amazing news team and Kitebrook Preparatory School was part of it.

The BBC Academy is showcasing some of stories and school websites and has listed Kitebrook Preparatory School’s dedicated website page and YouTube channel “Kitebrook News”. This has been very exciting for our Kitebrook Young Reporters. You can view the BBC Academy page at:

What a fantastic evening last night which was enjoyed by all at the performance of 'Toad of Toad Hall'. Some great storytelling supported by song, costume and top performances by the children of Kitebrook Preparatory School. Well done, Kitebrook!

What a fantastic week the children had creating and running their various businesses during Young Enterprise Week at Kitebrook. Various charities chosen by the children will be lucky enough to have a share of profits made, which were an amazing £1,921. Well done to all the fantastic businesses and their enterprising teams! Special congratulations to Year 2 ‘Kitebrook Greenhouse’ for winning the trophy for Best Business.

Chef, Prue Leith, of Great British Bake Off fame visited Kitebrook Preparatory School and was delighted to receive a cake baked especially for her by its Boarders. Ms Leith also received a jar of marmalade made by the Year 7 class who will also be entering a jar into the 'World's Original Marmalade Awards'. The children of Kitebrook were enthralled by the famous chef's stories of her over 40 year career with food, and certainly they have been inspired to cook more at home with their parents. A fantastic and rare opportunity for the school and it's pupils!

Mr Millett, a year 4 pupil from Kitebrook Preparatory School has acted as 'Head for the Day' at the school. Mr Millet, 8 years old, was interviewed by Kitebrook's BBC Young Reporters and will also appear on Cotswold TV. His day was spent holding staff meetings including an appraisal, leading morning assembly, reviewing school documents and touring the school. Seated at 'Top Table' in the Dining Hall, Mr Millett said "I am proud to be Kitebrook's Headmaster and I hope everyone thought I did a good job." Both pupils and staff agreed that Cameron Millett lead the school with great professionalism and enthusiasm.